By Corey New
October, for people like me it is the start of a magical time of year, when that mature buck just might lose his suspicion and come charging through the brush to confront intruders in his territory. For most of the country’s whitetail deer hunters, October is when a set of rattling horns, a good grunt call and a little deer urine could produce the hunt of a lifetime.
I’m not talking about the rut, the breeding season, when bucks run willy-nilly through the woods seeking receptive does. For most of us, that comes later. I’m talking about the pre-rut, when mature bucks are establishing territories and vying for dominance.
Rattling, when done right, can be one of the most effective ways to convince a mature buck to show himself during daylight hours. There is absolutely nothing in the world like seeing a big bruiser buck stiff legging it through the timber, hair standing on end and doing his best to make his headgear look even bigger than it is. The most crucial part of rattling is to make it sound natural. Occasionally, a young buck will come in to check out poor rattling. I’ve even had them come in to metal clanging while putting up a deer stand, but a mature buck will see right through it. The best way to call is to imitate the animal, which means you’re mimicking a fight between two bucks.
Start with the initial SLAM of the first contact between two bucks by banging a pair of antlers together once, and then give a short rattle by clacking the tines together for maybe five to 10 seconds. Wait a few seconds before giving another short rattle. Every few rattles, separate the horns and give them another slam. Do this for no more than two or three minutes, then grab your weapon and get ready. You may rattle a hundred times with no luck, but trust me, when it works, it happens fast. When a mature buck comes in to rattling, he gives you plenty of warning by raking trees and scraping the ground coming in. Less dominant bucks tend to slip in quietly like they just want to watch the show.
I like to grunt in the midst of rattling. It gives the calling a more realistic sound. I’ll start with a few aggressive grunts before I rattle and then a few more after I’m done.
Another tool you should use to set the scene is scents. At the very least, the scent of any deer will help keep his attention off you and your scent. If he comes charging in to see two bucks fighting and doesn’t see or smell anything… he’s gone!
Throw all these attraction tactics together this month, and it could produce one of the most memorable hunts of your life. Grunting and rattling don’t work all the time, but when they do it is a sight to behold. If you want to try some scents and attractants, check out Bucks and Beards Scents at www.bucksandbeardsscents.com. Also, look up Mossy Creek Game Calls on Facebook if you’re in the market for a quality grunt call.
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